2014 World Cup Qualification Tournaments

[Matra2]

As I said in an earlier post, if it comes to an intercontinental playoff against a South American nation, Australia is finished.

It should be a bit easier this time as Brazil qualifies automatically meaning there should be a weaker team in such a playoff. Although at the moment that could mean Uruguay. As bad as they've played lately I think they'd beat an Australian team struggling against Iraq and losing to Jordan. Chile is another possibility.

 

[Giles Daldanus]

giles, i stopped watching uruguay months ago because they are anoying, the coach fails to bring in new players, as you said coates must play more, nobody understand why cristiano "cebolla" rodriguez doesn't play more also
there are many young players that could be called
cavani as never been used in his right position too, if you remember the 2010 world cup he was useless
i think that they will qualify though

Yes, complacency is bound to kick in if the coach keeps persisting with the same players...I agree that Uruguay are still a favourite to qualify, though, they arguably have more talent at their disposal than Chile and Ecuador.

i was impressed by peru and paraguay, and they had some good results
peru did 1-1 against argentina, and they deserved to win
but the latest matches have been VERY disapointing for me, look at the players on the peru team and on the paraguay team, they don't play with their best players, the ones that made me enjoy their teams

On the plus side, Pizarro, Farfan, Penny and Guerrero are all playing for Peru and there isn’t internal turmoil within the squad (though even the best footballers could never guarantee you a win on Bolivian soil). Oscar Cardozo has been having a difficult time with Paraguay, I am guessing that his penalty miss against Spain at the 2010 World Cup still haunts him and fans are sometimes not too forgiving when it comes to situations like that.

argentina on the other hand is very impressive, if they could get another goal keeper it would be great
messi is finally loved by the fans, he said that he feels loved by the fans, and he's put in the right conditions, so he shines with argentine (he was very good before too, but less influent than in barcelona)
it means that argentina will be very dangerous at the world cup

I think that Romero could improve, but it would be best for Argentina if there was real competition at his position...Leo Franco used to be a dependable goalie, but he will need to get regular playing time with a top division club in order to be considered for selection. Great to hear that Messi is rediscovering his passion for Argentina and hopefully he will soon be able to recreate his FC Barcelona for “The Gauchos”.

His careless giveaway in mid-field led directly to the second goal. I was disappointed in Uruguay's poor play.

That’s right, he wasn’t his usual self against Bolivia; he tracks back relatively often when playing for FC Liverpool, but on occasions seems more like a classic goal poacher when representing Uruguay.

As for Canada vs. Honduras, I wasn’t that surprised that the Hondurans were able to qualify, they actually impressed me quite a bit during the 2010 World Cup, but I agree that if Ricketts had done better with the chances that fell to him, then it could have turned out to be an even game with a lot of drama at the end. Who knows, the Hondurans might have panicked and conceded more goals. We will see whether the Canadians will now go for youth or some of the veterans will get their last chance to shine during the Gold Cup. If one is to be fair to their former coach, one has to take into account that he was put in a tight spot – apparently David “Junior” Hoilett had agreed to play for Canada, but only if the team reached the final round. He was willing to don the Canadian jersey only if the team proved to him that it was “good enough” (without his services). Now it’s not out of the question that Hoilett could opt for Jamaica (The “Reggae Boys” reached the Hex), as he is also eligible for the Caribbean country’s national team.

 

[frederic38]

an allwhite starting 11 for the french national team, by me
i think that one could do the same for england

it's the first time since the 50's that we can virtually have an allwhite starting 11
ofcourse there's going to be a black defensive middlefielder, a black full back, and maybe a black central defender, but i think that schneiderlin could play, he is the best defensive middlefielder of premiere league according to some
we have also toulalan who's the best defensive middlefielder of the spanish league
chantome from PSG also

i put gourcuff in the starting 11 because i like him but cabaye is likely to start in that position ( 1/4 asian, considered white)

as a left back, we could have the young lucas digne soon, real madrid could buy him this winter:



mexes plays at ac milan and he's the perfect player to play next to koscielny: he is slower, but more skilled
sakho is 3rd choice at PSG behind the brazilians and mbiwa is garbage, like his team, montpellier, who are back to fighting in the bottom of the table whithout giroud

then, if you play with wingers, you can't start benzema because he's useless on the crosses, he's never in the penalty area

 

[ThePhilosopher]

Well here's an England one by me.
Only Milner looks like a weak link.This team is much better than the Multicultural one.

 

[frederic38]

Well here's an England one by me.
Only Milner looks like a weak link.This team is much better than the Multicultural one.

you can also use rooney as a second striker, carroll as main striker, and 2 wingers
i would also put gerrard in wilshere's place, no?
i think gerrard plays lower on the pitch

 

[ThePhilosopher]

you can also use rooney as a second striker, carroll as main striker, and 2 wingers
i would also put gerrard in wilshere's place, no?
i think gerrard plays lower on the pitch

Well whenever Carroll plays for England(well,atleast the multicult. one),the midfield is bypassed and the defenders just hoof it up to him and hence they do not retain possession well.

Wilshere is surely better a bit deeper in a double pivot ala Xabi Alonso.

And Gerrard does play a more withdrawn role nowadays(specially for England),true.But he was at his best playing off a torres in that vintage Liverpool 2008 side containing what Liverpool supporters will say "best midfield in the world":

Xabi Alonso,Mascherano and of course,Gerrard.

Also,in your French team is there no alternative for Ribery???I actually do hate him more than quite a few "blacks".
Something like shifting Valbuena out wide,playing Gourcuff in "the hole" and playing cabaye/Gonalons/Toulalan alongside Schneiderlin??

 

[frederic38]

Also,in your French team is there no alternative for Ribery???I actually do hate him more than quite a few "blacks".
Something like shifting Valbuena out wide,playing Gourcuff in "the hole" and playing cabaye/Gonalons/Toulalan alongside Schneiderlin??

we don't have a lot of depth in our team, like i said it's the first time in years that we can virtually have an all white team
ribery could have been undiscovered, he could still play in 3rd division after being refused by french professional clubs for being too small
there are young forwards for the future: http://www.castefootball.us/forums/threads/13607-French-Soccer?p=260789&viewfull=1#post260789

but i tried to be realistic while doing this team, and ribery is currently the best french player, he's not going to be replaced anytime soon

 

[ThePhilosopher]

Well,here is a german one.I avoided Podolski,Mario Gomez and Klose for their non-german roots.
But this is still one hell of a team!:rockon:

 

[ThePhilosopher]

Also found this:





and this:

 

[frederic38]

Well,here is a german one.I avoided Podolski,Mario Gomez and Klose for their non-german roots.
But this is still one hell of a team!:rockon:

badstuber :yuck: (at least as a fullback)
put schmelzer instead :icon_wink:
otherwise there are big problems in german football, they have too many young players, and no leader
german legendary players have complained about that
they call it the "new germany"
too bad i can't translate the article i have about this, which is in french...

 

[ThePhilosopher]

badstuber :yuck: (at least as a fullback)
put schmelzer instead :icon_wink:
otherwise there are big problems in german football, they have too many young players, and no leader
german legendary players have complained about that
they call it the "new germany"
too bad i can't translate the article i have about this, which is in french...

Yup,I agree that should have been Schmelzer's position,completely forgot about him.:mad2:
As far as the leadership problem is concerned,surely schweinsteiger has to be the captain-the next leader.Lahm is just not charismatic enough for me.

 

[Europe]

too bad i can't translate the article i have about this, which is in french.

try google translate and then copy and paste it.

 

[frederic38]

try google translate and then copy and paste it.

i did so, and tried to correct every hardly understandable part
i added some things, wich are between these signs : "(...)"


Germany's darling: the third Germany (the other german teams were the "11 freunde", then the "ugly germany", who won titles but weren't pretty to watch)


after unconvincing matches against the Faroe Islands and Austria, the german national team discusses a "week of all dangers", according to his coach, Joachim Löw; germany will play this Friday in Dublin before receiving Sweden with Ibrahimovic in Berlin. But why does the german national team causes so many debates in Germany? Attempt to answer.


The press is attacking the coach. Between the little picks from former german players, a game that is disintegrating, and a coach that sticks to its choices, the national team lives a turbulent period with the rhythm of the shaking of international matches.


Pressure put by a press eager to do battle


It is well known that the German media are much more fierce than their France counterparts. And today, there is a form of funeral ceremonial which the wounded animal Low would be the feast of. accentuated by the end of his contract in 2014 . Moreover, he was not really comfortable at the press conference, in Vienna, after the match of his team against Austria. the "vulture" Kahn (oliver kahn, former goalkeeper), questioning the absence of a "winner mentality", or the latest output in the media by Hoeness: "He has to put more pressure on them and not only be in a good mood," show the widening gap between a German staff, supported "mordicus" by its Federation, a little bit elitist, and an old Germany , that of the people, hungry for titles.


Recently, the acerbic columnist for the newspaper Bild, Alfred Draxler, questioned: "is Low still able to learn?". True to his style, the author of a previous post entitled 'Ballack, a career to forget', is rough around the edges. he ponders Low's ability to draw the consequences of the humiliating defeat, without a fight, against Italy at the 2012 euro champs. Draxler pointing what hurts: and if the coach had reached, quite simply, its level of incompetence? The other aspect of the title of the journalist "is Low still able to learn?" being more populist and corporatist: "low, can't you hear, via the press, the cry of the german people and it's desires?"


Low's therapeutic confinement ? (implying that low is crazy)


Low is closed on itself (inward looking). he does not open the group to new players even if Schmelzer has been pitiful to the position of left back in Austria. Gomez is injured? Not problem! "There are only two world class German strikers " (Klose and gomez), he says. So he uses Podolski , rather than calling Kiessling, approaching the symbolic barrier of 100 goals in the Bundesliga and who scored 17 goals in his last 22 matches with Bayer Leverkusen in the german league. in the right winger position , he continues with the duplicate Boateng-Höwedes, ( who are both central defenders) to replace Lahm, suspended against Ireland. The versatile Gonzalo Castro,from leverkusen too, is still waiting for a call... endless wait.


Another case is debated: René Adler, the former goal keeper of the German national team, is back at his highest level, and he is, since the beginning of the season, the best in his position in Bundesliga according to the experts. Neuer said in the press that he "considers the goalkeeper of the HSV as a competitor". Low, well before telling the list of the called players, closes the debate. Then to round the corners, it is Andreas Köpke (former german goalkeeper) who told the Hamburger Abendblatt: "René was before his injury an extraordinary goalkeeper, and it's still the case". Then Adler had "of course" a good odds to be called in the national team... one day.


My reasoning might seem disingenuous because Heiko Westermann, one of my favourite players, has been recalled. I said "recalled" and not selected because it took the injuries of Gundogan, Bender, Hummels and the suspension of the captain of the national team to force the coach to call him. Incidentally, I remain convinced that the technical staff would have rather called a footballer from the youth categories of the german national team (Jung, Jantschke, Kirchhoff, or Rode) if the U21 didn't have to play a playoff for the 2013 U21 Euro champs , against Switzerland.



The new blinkered thinking of the "beautiful game" (it matters more to this new germany to play beautifully, to win no longer matters)


Germany plays well but she doesn't win anymore. no problem, claim the people that think soccer is only a show. Because today, it's like in the official history books (i didn't get that part),you must play beautifully to be a "beau beau" winner (impossible to translate). Greece and its achievement of Euro 2004? Forget it. Indeed, consider the example of greece during the last continental competition. We were not many to believe in their qualification for the quarter-finals. But what was the main reason for our small minority? A rational analysis? ofcourse not! It was just that most of the people no longer wanted to see the "defensive wall" of 2004. but you have to play to your strenghts, each team must adapt their playing style to it's abilities.

(on a personal note, you might understand now why i was suporting greece at the latest euro champs, because they play like germany should, they care only about the victory, and i hated to see every commentator downplay them because they weren't spectacular)


as an example, I would like to come back to a recent article in "l'equipe mag" (french newspaper about sports), where today's Germany was taken as an example of "loser". This football having won zero title since 2001. However, in 2010, this same magazine (l'equipe) gave the title of manager of the year to Joachim Löw.it doesn't mean anything! Especially as the palmares of the current coach is almost empty. Less than to refer to the economic journal Challenges, great specialist for annual prizes for great patterns, including the box breaks figure some time later... (a private joke, i don't know germany enough to get that one)


11 Freunde, ugly Germany, Germany's darling: three Germany


i am in complete disagreement with the chronological analysis in the above article by l'equipe (Kahn won the 2001 Champions League, then lost the final of 2002 - the article stated that germany became "losers" after 2001) the 2002-2008 period is the one of Ballack, who is not a product of the German football revolution. The Germany's darling (new germany) only appears in 2010 and has nothing to do with thegerman national team of Low of the 2008 euro champs...

I prefer to remember the fundamentals of German football andthe reason of the widening gap between the team and the population


The myth of the "11 Freunde", 11 friends, was born because of a surprising victory in the 1954 World Cup. During the groupstages, coach Herberger decided to face the very strong hungary team with a B team. The german team exploded (3-8). German fans feel betrayed. Letters of insults were sent. This welded the group to life to death and the 'miracle of Bern' takes place. According to Konrad Adenauer, 'the Germans are finally someone again ". The founding myth of German football was born.


It will take more than twenty years for Paul Breitner to say out loud what everyone thought: in a national team, we can win without particularly loving each others. "11 Friends?" "The biggest bull**** I have ever heard". The ugly Germany is at its peak, the palmares is filled. No matter the style as long as victory is here! The "Wille" (desire) and "Leidenschaft" (passion, suffering) should bring all the glories. skills, we never speak about it.


And this is the problem of the German national team. The evolution of its football made it attractive, but she also lost the desire to overcome. And the German public won't accept it. The lack of "Leitwolf', Pack leader, (or just leader) is disparaged. The generational gap is great. Spain, after having lost a lot thorough history, WINS without having changed his way of playing. as a contrast, Germany changed its DNA in his footballing revolution.


The fatalism of defeats against Spain (2008, 2010) or against Italy (never the national team has beaten the Squadra Azzura in a tournament), is accepted by the followers of the new german playing style. the German people,however, no longer forgives anything. Berti Vogts, the former victorious coach of Euro 96, warns: "we should not focus on the Spanish game". Between the innate and acquired, wide-ranging debate.

http://www.eurosport.fr/euro-visions-polo_blog223/euro-visions-polo_post2230225/blogpostfull.shtml


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in addition to this, here are a few articles or comments which tells a lot about germany's current problem:

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany have been showered with accolades for the way they have played for two years but the architect of their fast-paced game, coach Joachim Loew, knows it will count for nothing if he fails to collect a title.

The 52-year-old softly-spoken coach goes into Euro 2012, his third tournament in charge, with what looks like his most complete team to date.

But citing the Netherlands, in 1974 and 1978, when they played the most inventive football, but lost two World Cup finals, critics argue Loew’s Germany play beautifully, but lack the killer punch that has made defending champions and World Cup holders Spain the odds-on favourites again.

“I am sensing the yearning for a major title, especially within the team,” said Loew, acknowledging that three-time European champions Germany are seeking a first title since 1996. “It is clear that I also want a place in the history books.”

The well-dressed German, whose club coaching experience includes moderately-successful spells in Germany, Turkey and Austria, was virtually unknown when he joined the national team as assistant to Juergen Klinsmann in 2004.

A master tactician and a lover of detailed planning and preparation, Loew succeeded Klinsmann in 2006 and coached Germany at the Euro 2008, when the team contained a backbone of players from Klinsmann’s time, including captain Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings.

They lost to Spain in the final.

Two years later at the World Cup in South Africa, Loew fielded the youngest German World Cup team in 76 years to establish them as one of the most exciting prospects.
It was Spain, again, who ended German title hopes with a 1-0 semi-final defeat.


LOEW HALLMARKS
The current squad, however, bears all the hallmarks of a mature Loew production.
A dazzling mix of youth and experience has replaced the once powerful Alpha males, and their physical presence in the German team, with former captain Ballack dropped last year.

A versatile and flexible 4-2-3-1 system that Loew has relied on in the past two years has proved successful as Germany breezed through the qualifiers with 10 wins in 10 games.

None of the current leaders in the team, with abundant experience, is older than 28. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Lukas Podolski are a long way away from being veterans despite having won 170 caps between them.

Loew has also an overflow of quality on the bench with an equally-effective replacement for almost every starter, thanks to his insistence on introducing more and more young players.

Since the 2010 World Cup finals, where Germany scored four goals against both England and Argentina, Loew has injected even more youth into the squad with teenager Mario Goetze, defender Mats Hummels and Borussia Moenchengladbach top scorer Marco Reus all assured of a place in the squad.
The flawless qualifying campaign has whet Loew’s appetite for a major title which would lift the coach into a select group of German title-winning coaches alongside Franz Beckenbauer, Bertie Vogts, Helmut Schoen and Sepp Herberger, who led the Germans to their first major prize, winning the 1954 World Cup.

With Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands awaiting in the group stage, however, Loew knows he has to carefully tune his team to be in top form from the start.
“Obviously we are not afraid of these teams because we have a high quality team ourselves and we are very, very hungry,” said Loew. “Without these outstanding Spaniards, we would have won the title in the past two tournaments.”

Loew knows it is Spain they will most likely need to beat to clinch the title in Poland and Ukraine this summer.
“It is wrong to believe we can beat them with one-on-ones and by being tough,” Loew said a few weeks ago. “We need to become equally skilled and more dominant on the pitch and we have improved on that in the past two years.”

http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/05/01/germanys-loew-wants-title-with-beautiful-game/

a comment on an article, after germany's humiliating defeat to italy in the 2012 euro champs:

The current German players are not men, they are mommy's darlings (with the exception of Khedira, Mueller and Neuer). They bathe in the hype of the German media, who praise them even when they lose. They are encouraged by the media and coaching staff to be meek and humble. They are content. There is no real hunger for a trophy. But you have to be desperate, you have to be willing to die as a hero on the pitch to win a trophy. This German generation lacks the will and hardness/manliness of former German teams.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/28/euro-2012-germany-italy


something that's not adressed in these articles is the multicultural aspect of the "new germany", because ofcourse being multicultural can only be a strenght :icon_confused:
the best example is ozil:

Ultimately Ozil declared for Die Mannschaft, who have in Mesut’s eyes benefitted from the playmaker’s hybrid multicultural makeup which has shaped him as a player, with the man himself stating “My technique and feel for the ball is the Turkish side of my game; the discipline and attitude all come from Germany."

http://bergkampoftheweek.blogspot.fr/2012/09/the-ozil-contrast-working-hard-playing.html

ozil is not a german player, he will never be, he doesn't have the will and the attitude that the german had
when they say that "germany changed its DNA in the process" it means a lot, because ozil and other non-german players playing for germany really change the way germany plays

another team going the same way is italy:

"Euro 2012: Prandelli's Italy cast off cliches in spectacular style"

in the french media, there was even a quote by a former italian plaer, marco simone,saying that prandelli wanted to "change italy's DNA" (and he was happy about it)


what is happening is very sad, because germany and italy used to be the best european teams, they won 7 of the 10 world cups won by european countries

recent examples of this mentality change in the german team are for me the latest champions league final between bayern munchen and chelsea
i almost expected that, but this defeat pretty much means that a german club won't have any chance to win a champions league again, because if they can't beat a chelsea team which had a lot of flaws last year, with many injuries and suspended players (i think more than 50% of the starting 11 couldn't play the final), they won't win the champions league anytime in the future
the match vs sweden a few weeks ago, for me, was another example (leading 4-0 at half time and doing 4-4 at the end of the match)
or the 2008 defeat in the final of the euro champs against spain: i was shocked by the lack of will of the german team (the author of the article says 2008 was still the "ugly germany" but i don't agree, the change was already there)

the only goal of the 2008 final between spain and germany:

[video=youtube_share;8IHXy5bOXjI]http://youtu.be/8IHXy5bOXjI[/video]

the french commentator said that torres didn't behave like a spanish player, he behaved like an english player (the "fighting spirit")
this is how spain changed their mentality and became winners whithout "changing their DNA" , playing in the same way they always did
i used to suport spain when i was younger, and they had great teams, great players, but they were not winners

 

[Matra2]

But citing the Netherlands, in 1974 and 1978, when they played the most inventive football, but lost two World Cup finals, critics argue Loew’s Germany play beautifully, but lack the killer punch that has made defending champions and World Cup holders Spain the odds-on favourites again.

It's insulting to the great Dutch side of the 70s to compare them to Loew's Germany. The Netherlands team was arguably the best of the decade but were unlucky to play host nations in two consecutive World Cup finals. In the second one against Argentina they were without their best player, Johan Cruyff, for the entire tournament, and their top goalkeeper in the final, not to mention the numerous pre-match shenanigans that the cheating hosts and Italian referee put them through. Even then they were centimetres from a win - Rensenbrink hit the post in the last minute. More importantly, there is no question that the Dutch side was more innovative and influential (Total Football) in their time than the German team of today.

No one in the world - outside of Germany - would argue that Loew's German side has, at any time, been the best in the world. They've got many good players but I don't see anything particularly innovative about their style of play that will be copied by the rest of the world.

 

[frederic38]

It's insulting to the great Dutch side of the 70s to compare them to Loew's Germany. The Netherlands team was arguably the best of the decade but were unlucky to play host nations in two consecutive World Cup finals. In the second one against Argentina they were without their best player, Johan Cruyff, for the entire tournament, and their top goalkeeper in the final, not to mention the numerous pre-match shenanigans that the cheating hosts and Italian referee put them through. Even then they were centimetres from a win - Rensenbrink hit the post in the last minute. More importantly, there is no question that the Dutch side was more innovative and influential (Total Football) in their time than the German team of today.

No one in the world - outside of Germany - would argue that Loew's German side has, at any time, been the best in the world. They've got many good players but I don't see anything particularly innovative about their style of play that will be copied by the rest of the world.

to make it clear, the reason why i put this part in bold is because it mentions what is said currently about this new german national team in germany, not because i agree with the statement about netherlands ( i know nothing about soccer from the 70-80's, except french soccer a little bit)

 

[Matra2]

I understand you're just quoting someone else.

It does not surprise me that people in Germany think their team is better than they are as that is normal there. They think all things German are superior and are not shy about saying so. Often they are right, but not as often as they think. Loew's Germany barely beat Greece - though in fairness the Greeks were quite good - then got beaten by a poor quality Italian team. Beating a rubbish multiculturalEngland team in South Africa is not exactly a great accomplishment.

I can only remember the Dutch team in 1978 - I actually saw them play at Windsor Park in Belfast - but I was too young to understand the tactical aspects of the sport. Later in the 1980s and early 90s I saw plenty of old matches involving all the 70s teams and there can be little doubt the Dutch team was better relative to their opposition than than Loew's overrated team of the past 4 or 5 years.

I also agree about Ozil. I've watched him a lot for Real Madrid. He's talented and deserves his place but he's not a leader in the German tradition of players like Lothar Matthias or even a Bastian Schweinsteiger.

 

[frederic38]

OK, now I think I understand. You're not questioning whether Hart can handle crosses - the way Spanish keepers cannot. Although one would think that the more crosses a goalie is used to seeing the more skilled he'd become at deciding which ones he needs to come out for. But, yes, I can also see how a Premier League goalie, when in doubt about a particular cross, would almost always come out aggressively for it whereas in some other leagues the goalie would err on the side of caution and let his defenders take care of the situation.

today against sweden (i saw ibrahimowicz's goals since he plays in france), on the last swedish goal: hart shouldn't have come out of his goal (or he came too soon, and his jump and impulsion was too weak as i said here:

being too aggressive on a corner or a cross can be a mistake
you can try to get the ball while letting your defenders take care of it would have been a better choice, but you can also be fooled by the direction and the path of the ball if you come out of your goal too early
then you would have to adapt your footsteps to change direction, and that can lead to a total failure because whithout taking the right steps you can't jump

i think that it's what happened here


you never see him doing this kind of mistakes in premiere league

 

[Jack Lambert]

I thought I'd dig up this thread with a bunch of WC qualifiers being played here in the next few days.

 

[frederic38]

I thought I'd dig up this thread with a bunch of WC qualifiers being played here in the next few days.

i don't see any interesting matches today in europe
many lopsided matches (england against san marino, for example)

i'll watch france vs georgia, but france lost many players because of injuries, and they fear some suspension for the match against spain in a few days so they will field kind of an experimental team, with black newcomers pogba from serie A and varane from real madrid
instead of them, in the second leg koscielny will play, and maybe gonalons (both whites)

the lineup will be 5 blacks, 5 whites, and 1 arab

i'll focus my attention on the black defenders, and on benzema, like i have been doing for many years :rockon:

in south america the matches are more interesting because there are no very weak teams like san marino
here is the schedule:

i'll watch uruguay - paraguay
and maybe peru - chile but not live because it will be too late maybe
i'll also keep an eye on what argentina does

EDIT: i forgot to post the schedule:

http://espnfc.com/fixtures/_/league/fifa.worldq.conmebol/world-cup-qualifying---conmebol?cc=5739#

 

[Jack Lambert]

I've actually been watching Croatia and Serbia a little bit. Croatia is up 2-0, and both sides start an all-white 11. Croatia has Eduardo sitting on the bench, though.

I noticed Germany did not start Boateng today either! Even though it's just Kazakhstan, it's still nice to not see his terrible self in the lineup. Germany starts 9 whites, and of course their two white-looking Turks. The Germans are also starting Julian Draxler today as well.

But as you said Frederic, not a lot of good European matches on today. I did notice that Portugal only managed play to a 3-3 draw against Israel.

 

[frederic38]

I've actually been watching Croatia and Serbia a little bit. Croatia is up 2-0, and both sides start an all-white 11. Croatia has Eduardo sitting on the bench, though.

I noticed Germany did not start Boateng today either! Even though it's just Kazakhstan, it's still nice to not see his terrible self in the lineup. Germany starts 9 whites, and of course their two white-looking Turks. The Germans are also starting Julian Draxler today as well.

But as you said Frederic, not a lot of good European matches on today. I did notice that Portugal only managed play to a 3-3 draw against Israel.

in a few days there'll the rematch of the france vs spain match in which giroud tied the score at the last second of injury time
in my opinion it's the most interesting match

 

[frederic38]

france won 3-1

every white player was great

benzema and the black defenders were horrible

benzema has spent 930 minutes without scoring now, and he had many REALLY amazing misses today
giroud had a bad miss too, but he scored a few minutes later

sakho was responsible for the goal georgia scored

lloris has saved france on multiple occasions, as always, because the black defenders were so bad that georgia had way too many goal scoring oportunities

all the goals were scored by white players
so, a great match

 

[frederic38]

by looking at the highlights of the game you would think that france is 100% white:

[video=dailymotion;xyesey]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyesey_videoplayback_shortfilms#.UUzqh1fWplM[/video]

but no, there are also the black defenders that allowed georgia to score

 

[Europe]

Finland tied Spain 1-1. France vs Spain will be big next week.

What a pleasure watching all white teams play though. That's the way it is supposed to be.

Ashley Young started for England? God I wish Bale played for England. They can't find someone better than him?

Why even allow teams like San Marino, Luxembourg and Andorra to qualify? England won 8-0. Most academy teams could be San Marino.

 

[Arend]

Why even allow teams like San Marino, Luxembourg and Andorra to qualify? England won 8-0. Most academy teams could be San Marino.

Why not? Even those small nations can beat the bigger ones, or at least they get them in to trouble too:
[video=youtube;MgbGkcQuDbs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgbGkcQuDbs[/video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKDh04AN-Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvea293Q3KM